CLARION TRAVELS TO SHIPPENSBURG FOR SEASON FINALE
Clarion closes the 2006 football season on Saturday, November 11, when the Golden Eagles travel to Shippensburg to take on the Red Raiders. Kickoff at Seth Grove Stadium is set for 1pm.
The game can be heard on the Golden Eagle football network which includes WCCR-FM 92.7 and WKQW-FM, 96.3, as well as on the internet at Redzonemedia.com with Mike Kalinowski calling the play by play.
8 GOLDEN EAGLES PLAY IN FINAL GAME
Eight Clarion seniors will play the final game of their careers. Those seniors include in alpha order are Eric Deliere - OC, 6-2, 305, Washington, McGuffey HS; Zach Gourley - LB, 6-0, 220, McIntyre, Apollo Ridge HS; Matt Morris - LB, 6-1, 215, Boiling Springs, Boiling Springs HS; Kevin Rigby - OLB, 6-2, 210, Cortland, Oh., Lakeview HS; Kyle Snoke - P/PK, 6-0, 180, Harbor Creek, Cathedral Prep HS; Zack Snyder - OC, 6-5, 310, Akron, Oh., St. Vincent/St. Mary HS; Jewell Stephens - WR, 6-0, 180, Penn Hills, Penn Hills HS; and Dwaon Woodard - DB, 5-10, 170, Erie, Central HS.
FOSTER IN HIS FIRST YEAR AT CLARION
Clarion is 1-9 overall and 0-5 in the PSAC-West entering Saturday’s game. The Golden Eagles opened 2006 with a 21-13 loss at Tiffin and a 27-10 loss at Kutztown. After dropping the home opener to West Chester 49-21, Clarion traveled to Bloomsburg and led the Huskies 10-7 at halftime before losing in the fourth quarter 24-10. Bloomsburg is ranked #2 in the East Region. Losing the PSAC-West opener to Slippery Rock 31-7, Clarion won the Homecoming Day game against Cheyney 21-18. The Golden eagles traveled to IUP the next week and led IUP 7-6 at halftime before bowing to the 33-7 to the 7th ranked team in the East. Clarion also played well in their 13-0 shutout loss to Edinboro, then lost 14-7 at Lock Haven, and last week was within 21-14 of California (#5 in the East) in the fourth quarter before bowing 41-14.
Foster is certainly no stranger to the PSAC and NCAA Division II football. Foster coached for 18 seasons at Slippery Rock before coming to Clarion, and was the defensive coordinator at the Rock for 17 of those years. While at Slippery Rock Foster helped those teams compile a 120-73-4 record, make 3 NCAA D-II Playoff appearances and earn four straight PSAC-West crowns (1997-2000). A native of Berwick, Maine, Foster is a 1985 graduate of Plymouth State and coached two seasons under Danny Hale at West Chester before going to SRU.
SHIPPENSBURG 4-6; 2-3/ LED BY COACH ROCKY REES
Shippensburg enters the game with a 4-6 overall record and a 2-3 mark in the PSAC-West in 2006. The Red Raiders opened the season with a 14-0 loss to Shepherd (#1 in the East), then won back to back games against Mansfield (35-0) and Kutztown (45-27). After losing 24-0 to West Chester and 35-14 to Bloomsburg (#2 in the East), Shipp bounced back to post an impressive 28-21 win at Slippery Rock and a 20-17 overtime victory at Lock Haven. Since then Shipp has lost three straight to IUP (20-16), California (35-20) and last week at Edinboro (54-30).
SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1 In 2004 Shippensburg posted a 10-2 overall record including a trip to the NCAA Division II Playoffs. The Raiders lost in the first round to West Chester (33-28). It was their first NCAA bid since 1981. Veteran head coach Rocky Rees is in his 17th season at Shippensburg and has an overall record of 101-86-1. He is in his 22nd year as a collegiate head coach and has a career record of 137-101-2.
SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1CLARION LEADS SERIES 33-16-1 DATING BACK TO 1955
In a series that dates back to 1955, Clarion leads the overall series 33-16-1. Clarion lost last year’s meeting 37-0 at Shippensburg as well as the 2004 game at Memorial Stadium 44-0. Clarion last defeated Shippensburg in 2000 in a wild 56-49 contest. In the last 11 years Shipp holds an 8-3 advantage over the Golden Eagles. Clarion wins were in 1995 (31-9), 1996 (59-20) and 2000 (59-46). Ship wins were in 1997, (37-14), 1998 (38-3), 1999 (32-26), 2001 (34-29), 2002 (20-19). 2003 (13-0), 2004 (44-0) and 2005 (37-0.)
CLARION #11 IN TOTAL OFFENSE IN PSAC
The Golden Eagles are getting 251 (#11 in PSAC) yards of total offense per game in 2006. Clarion is getting 118.7 rushing yards (#10 in PSAC) and 132.3 passing yards (#12 in PSAC) per game.
HUETHER CALLING THE SIGNALS
The Golden Eagles will start true freshman Tyler Huether (Fr. Penn Trafford) for the fifth straight week. In 2006 he has connected on 51 of 128 passes for 664 yards and 4 td’s. The backup is red-shirt freshman Mark Rupert (Knoch). Rupert owns a 302 yard, 2 td performance against West Chester. This season he has completed 43 of 108 passes for 647 yards and 5 td’s.
The running game is spearheaded by junior Eddie Emanuel (Hempstead, N.Y.). Emanuel had a career high 170 yards versus SR and also went for 150 against Cheyney. He has 180 rushes for 892 yards and 3 td’s, plus caught 3 passes for 18 yards. Also running is Keith Gruber (Jr. Baltimore, Md.; 16 carries, 59 yards). The fullback position is manned by Kevin Brady (Middletown, N.Y.) .
ODOM LEADS CLARION RECEIVERS
Junior wideout Pierre Odom (Trenton, N.J.) heads the receiving corps. Odom was a D-2 Football.com national co-player of the week after his tremendous performance against West Chester. Odom grabbed 6 passes for 246 yards and 1 td. His 246 yards was the second highest in Clarion history behind Terry McFetridge’s 251 in 1982 versus Kutztown and the 8th highest in PSAC history. Odom now has 45 catches for 793 yards and 3 td’s this season and 106 career catches for 1,477 yards and 8 td’s. Also ready to latch onto the pigskin are Dane Williams (So. Penn Hills – 6 catches, 52 yards, 1 td) and Herb Carraway (Jr. Darlington, S.C.; 10 catches, 148 yards). Clarion also has tight ends Matt Foradora (So. Falls Creek, Brockway; 20 catches, 235 yards, 4 td’s) and Jason Glass (Fr. Greensburg C.C.; 3 catches, 34 yards).
CLARION DEFENSE PREPARES FOR SHIP
Clarion’s defense hopes to be ready for the Raiders. Clarion is giving up 324.3 yards per game (#8 in PSAC) including 158.1 rushing yards (#9 in PSAC) and 166.2 passing yards (#4 in PSAC) per game.
SIMMONS LEADS CLARION DEFENSE UP FRONT
Clarion’s defensive front has been led in 2006 by Jimmy Simmons (Jr. Huntland, Tn.). Simmons has 65 total tackles, including a team-leading 25 tfl’s. Also strong up front are Jim McHale (So. Cortland, Oh – 21 stops, 3 tfl’s), Corey Giles (So. Cochranton- 13 hits, 1 tfl), Rich McCune (Slippery Rock – Laurel; 26 tackles, 2 tfl’s), Kyle Cathcart (Jr. Clarion – 29 hits, 5 tfl’s), Kory Kusick (Fr. East Brady – 7 hits, 2 tfl’s) and Nate Griffin (So. San Antonio, Tx.- 6 hits).
LINEBACKERS ANCHOR CLARION DEFENSE
Clarion’s second line of defense is strong across the row. 2005 third team All-American Matt Morris (Sr. Boiling Springs) anchors the middle. He leads the team with 86 stops, 8 tfl’s, 3 break-ups this season and 1 interception. He now has 335 career stops and 53 tfl’s. Guarding the outside are Zach Gourley (Sr. McIntyre – Apollo Ridge) and Kevin Rigby (Sr. Cortland, Oh.). Gourley is second on the tackle chart with 83 hits and 9 tfl’s, while Rigby has managed 77 stops, 10 tfl’s, 2 int. Gourley has 253 career tackles and 33 tfl’s, while Rigby has 208 career stops and 23 tfl’s. Also set to see time will be Colin McDonough (Fr. State College, 13 jolts, 1 tfl) and Josh Rytel (Fr. Beaver Falls-Blackhawk; 9 stops, 1 tfl).
WOODARD & BRAZIL LEAD SECONDARY
Anchoring the secondary will be corners Dwaon Woodard (Sr. Erie- Central) and Quintin Brazil (So. Pgh. Oliver). Woodard has 35 tackles this year and 4 int’s, and in his career has 161 career tackles, 10
int’s and 25 break-ups. Woodard had 3 int’s against Cheyney, including a 54-yard return for a touchdown. Brazil has 31 stops and 1 int. this season. The safeties include Tom Schreppel (So. Shenandoah; 38 jolts) and Erik Yonish (Jr. Bethel Park; 50 tackles. 2 int.).
SHIP #10 IN TOTAL OFFENSE IN PSAC
Shippensburg’s offense ranks #10 in the PSAC in total offense getting 293 yards per game and #10 in scoring offense at 20.5 points per game. The Raiders are getting 133.2 rushing yards (#7 in PSAC) and 159.8 passing yards (#10 in PSAC) per game.
Directing the offense will be either Tony Gomez or Gabe Maiocco. Gomez has completed 58 of 127 aerials for 776 yards and 5 td’s with 9 interceptions. Gomez did not play against Cal two weeks ago and played sparingly last Saturday against Edinboro completing 1 of 5 passes for 5 yards and 2 interceptions. Maiocco has completed 58 of 148 passes for 754 yards and 3 td’s with 7 int’s. Against edinboro last week he was 10 of 20 for 154 yards and 1 td.
The running game is paced by Aaron Dykes (121 carries, 456 yards, 5 td’s), Dave Richards (63 rushes, 314 yards, 1 td) and Walter Crump (61 attempts, 266 yards, 2 td’s). Crump also has 20 catches for 300 yards and 1 td through the air.
The receiving corps features wideouts Pat Ferguson (32 catches, 542 yards, 6 td’s), Howard Chavous (24 receptions, 276 yards), and Tim Devanney (15 grabs, 193 yards, 2 td’s).
SHIP #7 in PSAC IN TOTAL DEFENSE
Shippensburg’s defense ranks #7 in the PSAC in total defense yielding 317.9 yards per game and #8 in scoring defense giving up 24.7 points per game. The Raiders are #7 in rushing defense yielding 127.5 yards per game and #11 in pass defense giving up 190.4 yards per contest.
Leading the Raiders up front are noseguard Brandon Cook (30 stops, 12 tfl’s), tackle Michael Apgar (16 tackles) and ends Jason Groller (38 jolts, 12 tfl’s) and Josh Emberg (27 tackles, 7 tfl’s).
The linebackers include top tackler Jaron Nalewak (71 hits, 21 tfl’s) plus Bill Morrison (61 stops, 11 tfl’s) and Frank Duffy (40 tackles, 9 tfl’s).
The secondary has the team’s #2 tackler in free safety Jonathan Aldridge (67 stops) and strong safety James Rockymore (26 tackles, 4 int’s). The corners include John Sharbaugh (66 hits) and Reggie Farrior (53 jolts, 2 int’s).
CLARION NOTES: Clarion wide receiver Pierre Odom now has 106 catches at Clarion … He is only the 12th player in Eagle history to reach 100 catches… Next at 108 catches are fomer tight end Rick Terza (108 catches, 1968-70) and Bob Betts (108 catches, 1978-81)… Alvin Slaughter leads the category with 195 catches (1995-98)… Odom’s 1,477 yards currently ranks 11th in school history … Last week he passed Rick Terza for 11th spot … Terza had 1,459 yards … Eddie Emanuel needs 108 rushing yards Saturday to reach 1,000 …Only three rushers have reached 1,000 in a single season …. Steve Witte (1,352 – 1996), ron DeJidas (1,231 – 1996) and Elton Brown (1,214 – 1983)… Robert Walker had 984 in 2002 and Demetric Gardner had 983 in 2001… Emanuel’s 898 currently ranks 8th … SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1In last year’s 37-0 loss at Ship, Clarion had 204 offensive yards to Ship’s 341 … QB Erik Yonish rushed for 76 yards and passed for 109 … Ship’s Aaron Dykes had 139 rushing yards and 1 td … In 2004 Ship won 44-0 … Clarion was held to 90 yards of offense including only 16 rushing yards... Ship’s John Kuhn, who is currently on the Pittsburgh Steelers playing roster, rushed for 5 td’s ... Three years ago in Clarion’s 13-0 loss at Shipp the offense was held to 70 yards ... Clarion’s “D” also did a good job on Ship limiting them to only 303 yards ... Kuhn gained 173 yards and 1 td rushing on 33 carries & QB Rick Henshaw completed 8 of 18 passes for 92 yards ... In Ship’s 20-19 win at Clarion in 2002, Brian Sekel’s 18-yard td catch with 6:47 left in the game provided the margin of victory... Clarion had 307 total yards with 60 on the ground and 247 through the air ... Ship had 258 overall including 185 rushing and 73 passing ...Adam Almashy passed for 247 yards and 2 td’s... Ship’s John Kuhn gained 184 yards and 1 td on 31 carries... In 2000 at Memorial Stadium the two teams combined for a Clarion record 105-points as Clarion won a 56-49 shootout ... Clarion held what looked to be comfortable leads in the third quarter of 49-14 and 56-21, before the Raiders mounted a furious comeback... Adam Almashy stole the show completing 16 of 26 passes for 282 yards and 5 td’s, while also rushing for a td... Tab Musser led the Eagle ground attack with 93 yards... Clarion outgained Shipp in that game 576 - 391.